On April 21, 2022, nearly 1,100 Nielsen employees across 30 countries gathered virtually and in person to celebrate Earth Day. This marked the ninth year that Nielsen teams planned activities and volunteer events to build a stronger and more resilient future for our planet and coming generations. Our Green Business Resource Group (BRG) led the activities, which organized Nielsen employees as one company to contribute more than 1,840 volunteer hours across 62 events to drive responsible action for climate justice.
Recognizing the unique role of the media industry in driving awareness and action on climate change, we kicked off the celebrations with an Earth Day Community Conversation moderated by Sandra Sims-Williams, Chief Diversity Officer at Nielsen. Nearly 500 employees heard from John Marshall, Chairman and CEO of Potential Energy Coalition, Christina Lowery, CEO of Girl Rising and Tia Kennedy, Girl Rising Future Rising Fellow on ways we can leverage our expertise and platforms to be truth-tellers and audience-engagers in the fight against climate change. In addition to sharing insights, Nielsen collaborates with both nonprofits to provide pro bono data and volunteer support, via our Data for Good program.
Nielsen employees around the world joined in park and beach clean-ups, discovered ways to reduce food waste, discussed sustainable alternatives to single-use disposable products and much more. In total, volunteers collected 1,900 kilograms of waste and donated or planted 140 trees and plants.
“As people, we need to care for each other, and also the Earth, the animals and the world we live in,” said Israa Kashour, Manager, Content Partnerships and Cares and Green Local Leader for Jordan. “It’s important to remember that any small action to protect our environment, including those we take on Earth Day, can make a difference.”
In our first-ever climate justice-focused skill-based volunteering initiative, 13 volunteers worked in teams for our Earth Day Flash Consulting event with Common Impact. Volunteers lent their skills and expertise to offer solutions to organizational challenges faced by the nonprofits Environmental Justice Foundation and the Climate Mobilization Project.
“Nielsen’s 2022 Earth Day celebrations provided an important opportunity to recognize how our choices and actions can help to build a better climate future for all people, and especially the role that media and technology companies can play for that better future,” said Andrea Bertels, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship. “We know this work requires more than a day or week of organizing, and are dedicated to our year-round commitments to reduce our environmental footprint and promote environmental and social justice.”
For more information on Nielsen’s volunteering programs, progress on our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, as well as other ways that Nielsen gives back, visit Nielsen’s Responsibility & Sustainability page.
